P!nk is known for being super-comfortable in her own skin – so comfortable that she teamed up with PETA US and photographer Ruven Afanador to make her point perfectly clear: she wants animals to keep their own skin. P!nk joins a long list of celebrities who’d “rather go naked than wear fur”.

[A]nimals are the purest spirits in the world. They don’t fake or hide their feelings, and they are the most loyal creatures on Earth. … I would like to say I’ve always been fur-free so I could be proud of myself. Unfortunately, I went through a selfish phase and wore fur on a couple of occasions. But since then, I’ve wised up and now boycott fur completely. I wish everyone was forced to learn the horrors that these animals go through for fashion trends. I hope fur-wearers get bitten in the ass by the same kind of animal they wear on their back.
– P!nk

Electrocuted, beaten, drowned, strangled and skinned alive – this is the fate of millions of animals, including foxes, minks, raccoons, rabbits, chinchillas and even cats and dogs, who are raised for their fur. In China, the world’s largest exporter of fur, there are no penalties for abusing animals on fur farms.

For every fur coat, fur-trim collar or fur-lined boot, at least one animal endured pain and died in agony. Join P!nk today and take the pledge to help lead the charge for animals everywhere by living a kinder lifestyle and vowing never to buy fur.

]]>http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/skins/pnk-rather-go-naked-wear-fur/feed0PETA’s Herd Of ‘Animals’ Greets Pope Francishttp://blog.petaasiapacific.com/vegetarianism/petas-herd-animals-greets-pope-francis
http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/vegetarianism/petas-herd-animals-greets-pope-francis#commentsFri, 16 Jan 2015 01:11:42 +0000http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/?p=3099Among the millions of supporters gathered to celebrate Pope Francis’ arrival in the Philippines were a “seal,” a “kangaroo,” a “cow,” an “elephant”. Why were the animals …

]]>Among the millions of supporters gathered to celebrate Pope Francis’ arrival in the Philippines were a “seal,” a “kangaroo,” a “cow,” an “elephant”. Why were the animals rushing to welcome the pope? PETA—and Pinoy animal lovers—are hopeful that Pope Francis will inspire everyone to make the kind and just choice to include all animals in our circle of compassion.

It’s easy to become a bit cynical about expecting the government to take real action, particularly when it comes to the issue of animal welfare. But Taiwanese officials have come down hard on cruel and illegal pigeon-racing clubs. The arrests and seizure of property come on the heels of a five-month People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) U.S. investigation into this industry—the most extreme, most deadly, and most crime-ridden in the world.

PETA US undercover investigators documented a grueling system of races over the open ocean and the highest racing death rates in the world. They met with top pigeon-racing officials, observed pigeon racers training birds in three cities, visited pigeon lofts, attended the shipping night of a race in the largest club, toured a ship that transports pigeons for races and watched the loading, and recorded video of bird releases during races in the South China Sea.

Make no mistake about it: Pigeon racing is a deadly pastime—for the birds. Young pigeons are transported out to sea in cargo ships and released in all weather extremes, regardless of the danger. Hundreds of kilometers off shore, the birds are forced to try to make their way home with no land in sight.

These extreme conditions lead to the highest death rates for pigeons in the world. Pigeons often fly low over the water to avoid as much wind as possible, and thousands of young birds die during each race when they are swept underwater by waves or succumb to exhaustion. In one race that PETA US observed, the pigeons were released into typhoon-force winds; 85 percent of them failed to return and are presumed to have perished. These aren’t races—they are massacres.

Investigators gathered race results and recorded top club officers and racers admitting to routine massive casualty totals from the ocean races. Participants also admitted to illegal gambling and tax evasion. With billions of Taiwanese dollars at stake each year, it’s no wonder that organized crime plays a big role in these clubs.

In Taiwan, birds race for one seven-race series when they are between 4 ½ and 6 months old. The president of the largest racing club in Taiwan told the investigators that the birds only get one chance—if they fail to return by a designated time, they are killed. So birds who manage to survive the ocean races but don’t return in the qualifying time likely will have their necks snapped.

These birds don’t deserve such a fate. Besides being loyal mates and nurturing parents, pigeons are personable and extremely smart. They can learn abstract numerical rules—something only humans and other primates were thought to do—and researchers have found that they can learn the letters of the English alphabet quite easily.

Taiwanese officials are to be commended for cracking down on bird abusers, and citizens should take heart that cruelty to animals is being taken with the seriousness that it deserves.

]]>For everyone concerned about the animals affected by Typhoon Hagupit, PETA Asia is monitoring the situation and stands ready to help all animals in need. PETA has a campaigns office in Manila, and we are working all year round to improve the lives of animals (including cats, dogs, cows, chickens—and even an elephant!) in the Philippines.

As the storm moves across the country, flooding—in the capital and elsewhere—poses a risk to animals, especially stray cats and dogs. As in many places, there is severe overpopulation of companion animals in the Philippines, and the many homeless animals on the streets struggle to survive every day.

PETA has helped animals affected by Typhoon Haiyan and Tropical Storm Maring, and we will continue to be here to help our furry, finned, and feathered friends day in and day out.

]]>As the 2014–15 Chinese Basketball Association season gets into full swing, former NBA player The Panda’s Friend launched a new ad for PETA at Raffles City in Chengdu to promote the importance of spaying and neutering. Formerly known as Ron Artest and Metta World Peace, The Panda’s Friend made the name change after he moved to Chengdu in order to play for the Sichuan Blue Whales (and we have to say, we think it’s awesome!).

Check out some pictures from the event:

“The U.S. and China have a serious animal-homelessness crisis,” he said. “Spaying and neutering your companion animals is the way to help them.”

Millions of unwanted animals are suffering and dying on the streets every year because of starvation, disease, traffic accidents, and abuse. Spaying eliminates the stress that females endure while they’re in heat as well as the risk of developing uterine cancer, and it also greatly reduces the risk that they will develop mammary cancer. Neutering makes males far less likely to roam and fight, prevents testicular cancer, and reduces their risk of developing prostate cancer. Spaying or neutering is also strongly encouraged by the Chengdu Municipal Public Security Bureau, which offers spay and neuter services at its animal shelter.

]]>http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/companion-animals/pandas-friend-unveils-peta-ad-chengdu/feed0Which ‘Beauty’ Company Has an Ugly Secret to Hide?http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/animal-experimentation/beauty-company-ugly-secret-hide
http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/animal-experimentation/beauty-company-ugly-secret-hide#commentsTue, 04 Nov 2014 20:27:03 +0000http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/?p=3048%2F&loggedin=1413775623No amount of concealer can cover up Revlon’s latest black eye. The company was once a mainstay on PETA U.S.’ list of companies that don’t …

In December 2013, Revlon announced that it is “exiting China,” but the company refused to confirm whether this simply meant that offices were closing or whether it will be withdrawing its products from China and no longer paying for tests on animals there.

PETA U.S. finally got the truth, and it isn’t pretty. A representative attended Revlon’s annual meeting to present a resolution calling for transparency for the company’s animal testing policy and practices. She also asked Revlon CEO Lorenzo Delpani point blank whether the company would be withdrawing its products from the Chinese market. Delpani confirmed that “exiting” China does not mean that Revlon will stop selling its products there and added that the decision to exit China was based on business and financial reasons, not the government’s animal testing requirements.

We’d suspected that Revlon’s months-long refusal to answer PETA US’ questions meant that the company had something to hide. Now we know that “something” is the bodies of rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs who are poisoned and killed for its products in cruel and archaic tests.

Last week, Fendi brought its “Un Art Autre” exhibit to a popular Hong Kong mall. The event, whose title translates as “Art of Another Kind,” showcased a dozen Fendi designs of death (aka “fur coats”) created over the last several centuries.

PETA and local activists made sure that Fendi was aware that its cruel ways would not be tolerated in Hong Kong—or anywhere else, for that matter.

During the launch of the event—which was crowded with celebrities, socialites, and members of the fashion media—activists unleashed their fury on Fendi. One activist stripped at the event’s entrance to reveal “FurIsDead.com” written all over her body; another wore a bunny suit reading, “Who stole my fur?”; and a pair unfurled a banner portraying a giant image of a skinned fox and the words “Here’s the rest of your fur” from an upper-level balcony. A dozen other activists held signs outside the Fendi booth and made sure that their “fur is murder” chants would be heard in the background of every single TV interview. Needless to say, Fendi’s guests didn’t stay long.

We’re looking forward to seeing Fendi at its next stop. If you want to join the fight against fur, start by taking PETA’s fur-free pledge.

]]>http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/skins/fendi-hongkong-fur/feed0Hanoi’s Best Vegan Eatshttp://blog.petaasiapacific.com/vegetarianism/hanois-best-vegan-eats
http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/vegetarianism/hanois-best-vegan-eats#commentsTue, 28 Oct 2014 19:35:23 +0000http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/?p=3051%2F&loggedin=1413776123Part of what makes travel so alluring is experiencing different cultures – and this often includes sampling the local cuisine. Luckily, wherever you wander, a …

]]>Part of what makes travel so alluring is experiencing different cultures – and this often includes sampling the local cuisine. Luckily, wherever you wander, a tasty, healthy and affordable vegan meal is never far away. If you’re planning to visit Hanoi, you’re in luck – we’ve compiled a handy guide to the city’s best vegan eats!

This pure vegetarian restaurant serves authentic Vietnamese dishes – from fresh rolls and vegetable salads to noodle soups and hotpot – all at a very reasonable price. For a traditional Vietnamese-style meal, order some rice, a main dish (we recommend the fried tofu with lemongrass and chilli), green vegetables and a bowl of soup. Treat yourself to a fresh-fruit shake, too – just be sure to ask for no milk.

With two locations in Hanoi, Thien Phat Chay offers a fine dining experience with a tranquil ambiance. The set menu, which features small portions of four to five dishes, is perfect if you want to sample a little bit of everything. Or if you’re with a group of friends, order some rolls and a hotpot to share. We highly recommend the faux-meat dishes – try any of them, and you will be delighted.

If you want to try something different from the normal Buddhist-style vegetarian restaurants commonly found in Vietnam, this is the place. Located in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, in a tiny alley far from the noise of the busy streets, Hanoi Social Club offers an extensive vegan-friendly menu with labels on each dish indicating vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. Start off with a plate of leafy green salad, grab a veggie burger and take home some tofu chips as snacks for later.

One thing to keep in mind about restaurants in Hanoi is that most of them close very early. If you want to grab a bite after 9 p.m., this small café has everything that you need. Its vegetarian menu is very vegan-friendly, and the staff is always helpful if you want to clarify any specific dietary requirement. The crispy fried noodles with vegetables on top are particularly outstanding.

One thing is certain: You won’t go hungry while you’re visiting Hanoi. So grab your bag, get a map and discover the 1,000-year-old city of rich culture, friendly people and delicious food!

]]>http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/vegetarianism/hanois-best-vegan-eats/feed0The Myth That Is ‘Sustainable’ Fishinghttp://blog.petaasiapacific.com/vegetarianism/myth-sustainable-fishing
http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/vegetarianism/myth-sustainable-fishing#commentsTue, 21 Oct 2014 20:06:28 +0000http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/?p=3045%2F&loggedin=1413774388Sustainable fishing: a noble idea. That’s the notion that we can capture and kill hundreds of thousands of aquatic animals every year while still maintaining—or …

]]>Sustainable fishing: a noble idea. That’s the notion that we can capture and kill hundreds of thousands of aquatic animals every year while still maintaining—or increasing—the populations of those animals in the ocean. Easy enough, right?

Wrong. With modern society’s advances in technology, we now have extremely efficient fishing practices that leave no escape for our scaly friends. As a result, billions are slaughtered every single year, rendering the concept of “sustainable fishing” nothing more than a fantasy.

Commercial fishing is irrevocably devastating our oceans and our environment. In the last 50 years alone, 90 percent of large fish populations have been wiped out, leaving the oceans in critical condition. Many commercial fishing vessels practice bottom-trawling in order to catch sea animals who live near, on, or under the sea floor, such as flounder, cod, grouper, shrimp, and scallops. This technique has been fittingly compared to the disastrous clear-cutting of forests, although its scale is even greater. Elliott Norse, chief scientist of the Marine Conservation Institute, says, “Scientists find that bottom-trawling is the largest disturbance to the world’s sea floor and possibly the largest human-caused disturbance to the biosphere.”

Not only are the numbers of fish dwindling, sea turtles, birds, seals, whales, sharks, and other nontarget animals also inevitably become collateral damage. They become tangled in nets or hooked by longlines and are thrown overboard to fall victim to swarming birds or to bleed to death in the water.

“Sustainable fishing” enthusiasts subscribe to the myth that by fishing only for certain fish at various times of the year and by collaborating with the industry, governments, chefs, restaurants, consumers, and retailers, our oceans can be saved. But we have passed the point where this might have worked. Current populations of fish are too low for any of these methods to make a difference. Our only remaining weapon to combat overfishing is abstinence from eating fish and seafood. One of the world’s leading marine biologists, Dr. Sylvia Earle, has chosen to leave fish and other seafood off her plate. She stresses that “every fish counts at this point” and explains that “if we value the ocean and the ocean’s health at all, we have to understand that fish are critical to maintaining the integrity of ocean systems, which in turn make the planet work.”

Not only is capturing, killing, and eating fish unsustainable, it can also pose many health risks. Because our oceans are increasingly polluted, fish flesh is frequently contaminated with mercury and PCBs, among other toxins that are dangerous to our health.

If we continue to treat fish as a commodity, we will soon be faced with a barren and desolate sea, stripped of all traces of life: a ghost sea. Just as we visit museums to wonder at the bones of long-extinct dinosaurs, our children will gaze upon skeletons and fossils of fish with awe, imagining with incredulity a time when the oceans swarmed with life.

]]>http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/vegetarianism/myth-sustainable-fishing/feed0BREAKING NEWS! Makers of Cruel ‘Crush’ Videos Sentenced to Life Imprisonmenthttp://blog.petaasiapacific.com/companion-animals/breaking-news-makers-cruel-crush-video-sentenced-details
http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/companion-animals/breaking-news-makers-cruel-crush-video-sentenced-details#commentsMon, 29 Sep 2014 05:40:43 +0000http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/?p=3032%2F&loggedin=1411715200Earlier today, a Philippine court found La Union residents Vicente and Dorma Ridon—who have been in jail during their trial since June 2012—guilty of …

]]>Earlier today, a Philippine court found La Union residents Vicente and Dorma Ridon—who have been in jail during their trial since June 2012—guilty of child abuse, animal welfare crimes, human trafficking, and wildlife-protection crimes for forcing girls to torture and kill puppies, rabbits, and other animals in “fetish” videos.

PETA Asia worked with authorities to ensure that the Ridons were located, arrested, and prosecuted. The Ridons, who have been sentenced to life imprisonment, also received a fine totaling over 9 million pesos each for their part in making the videos, in which scantily clad girls—one of whom was just 12 years old at the time—were filmed skinning a dog alive and burning another with a clothes iron, cutting off rabbits’ ears and setting the rabbits on fire while they flailed and screamed, hitting a monkey in the eye with the sharp end of a stiletto heel, and crushing puppies until they vomited their own internal organs. Sexual fetishists from Australia, France, Korea, Malaysia, the U.K., the U.S., and elsewhere purchased the videos on the Internet, and all face the possibility of being charged.

The Ridons were arrested at the conclusion of a yearlong investigation undertaken by the National Bureau of Investigation after PETA notified the authorities of their crimes.

The Ridons’ sentence is a warning to anyone involved in the vile crush video industry: There are grave consequences for harming animals. It’s people like you who helped make this conviction possible. PETA was made aware of these horrible videos by a compassionate person who stumbled upon them and took the time to report it. Never be silent about cruelty to animals.